Job description
Reports to: President & CEO
Department: Academic Affairs
Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Location: Hybrid, Palo Alto and Costa Mesa, CA
University Overview:
Since 1975, Sofia University has aspired to be a leader in transformative higher education offering students an education that transcends beyond a traditional learning environment. Students, staff, and faculty of Sofia are passionate individuals that recognize the need to be a part of something greater than themselves and seek opportunities that will provide them with the tools to empower themselves and their community. As Sofia continues to grow as a University, it remains committed to its transformative transpersonal values, as well as to maintaining a high-quality and diverse workforce representative of the community it services.
Sofia University is WASC Senior College & University Commission (WSCUC) accredited and offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in the fields of psychology, business, and computer science. Located in Palo Alto and Costa Mesa, California, the University provides both on campus and online programs, giving students the flexibility to further an education rooted in transformative and transpersonal values, in a format that best suits their schedule and needs. Sofia University is an equal opportunity employer.
Position Overview:
Sofia University is seeking an entrepreneurial academic leader to oversee its academic operations and programs and provide effective strategic guidance as a special purpose, transpersonal-based university. Working with other members of the Executive team, the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, the Provost will oversee all academic operational and support areas including the office of the Registrar, Library, and Student Services to ensure they reflect the mission of the University and its long-term sustainability. The next Provost will join Sofia University at an exciting and pivotal moment, as the institution develops innovative programs to navigate a challenging higher education regulatory landscape while maintaining financial sustainability. The Provost serves as an advocate for all educational programs, providing leadership to faculty, staff, and administrators to ensure consistent high-quality standards in curricula and programs that meet the needs of our undergraduate and graduate, domestic and international students.
Responsibilities:
The Provost oversees the academic integrity of the University and provides leadership in long-range planning, budgeting, community engagement, curriculum, new program development, and faculty support. The Provost will foster an entrepreneurial culture at Sofia that embraces its humanistic and transpersonal origins, innovation, promotes educational equity, and is focused on demand-based learning and student success. Working with campus constituents, the Provost will directly supervise the implementation of Sofia’s strategic goals and lead in the development and launching of new academic programs and partnerships. Working with the President, the Provost will participate in strategic planning, assessment and the systematic review of all programs and the development and launching of new programs and systems to ensure continuous improvement and long-term sustainability.
Academic Leadership, Governance, and Strategic Planning
- Supervises implementation of Sofia’s revised and reaffirmed strategic goals; participates in strategic planning, assessment, and systematic review of all programs with the President
- Leads development and launching of new programs, strategic partnerships, and entrepreneurial offerings that build on Sofia’s distinctive expertise
- Serves as a strategic budgeter, capable of creating, launching, and funding new programs
- Serves as a key member of the President’s Cabinet
- Represent Academics in Board of Trustee general meetings and BOT Academic and Student Affairs Committee meetings
- Provides leadership to academic committees (Chairs Council, Academic Policies and Procedures Committee, institutional planning committees, etc.)
- Leads or guides University-wide projects on key academic policies (Student Code of Conduct, AI use policies, etc.) and reviews policies to align with best practices and strategic goals
- Serve as the key leader of faculty relationships and communications???
- Supports and guides effective faculty governance and serves as a liaison between faculty governance structures and the President’s Cabinet, translating administrative priorities to faculty and faculty perspectives to leadership.
Accreditation & Assessment
- Oversees Sofia’s assessment of academic achievement, ensuring it supports student learning, creates actionable outcomes, and meets WSCUC requirements
- Ensures full compliance with WSCUC accreditation Core Commitments and Standards of Accreditation
- Work closely with ALO for completion of WSCUC reviews and reporting requirements
- Works with faculty to develop and implement assessment mechanisms evaluating program quality and market relevance
Faculty & Staff Leadership
- Recruits, develops, and retains outstanding and diverse faculty and staff
- Supervises and provides professional development opportunities for faculty, including onboarding and mentoring new faculty
- Hires appropriate staff, sets goals, and builds collaborative teams
- Enhances campus and faculty culture through recognition, transparent communication, and engaged listening
- Provide on-site presence on either university campuses to meet with students, staff, and faculty, or to meet with regulators
- Builds a culture of respect and understanding, with highly developed Emotional Intelligence as key to success in this role
Student Services & Academic Operations
- Oversees creation and implementation of the non-academic curriculum, including jobs and field internships
- Oversees student services support (orientation, advising, supervisory/probationary committees, graduation)
- Ensures effective academic administration (academic calendar, multi-year course planning, graduation requirements, student reviews)
- Robustly supports recruitment and admissions through public representation, prospective student meetings, and admissions interviews
Partnerships & External/Community Engagement
- Works with the Director of Marketing, AVP of Global Engagement, AVP of Enrollment Management, and Chair of Global Entrepreneurship and Technology Programs to design new programs and partnerships
- Actively seeks collaborative opportunities with other colleges and educational institutions, both domestic and international; meets with leaders of other institutions to advance common goals
- Represents Sofia University in the community as a key public spokesperson, thought leader, and teacher
- Supports recruitment by speaking/teaching at meetings and conferences; participates in academic gatherings; publishes academically and/or in popular forums
- Provides regular written updates to staff; presents at campus conversations, community events, and to University-wide project teams and Cabinet
Qualifications:
- Minimum of an earned doctorate.
- Successful teaching, preferably full-time within a university or a college.
- Experience with online/virtual or hybrid delivery formats
- Experience as a successful academic entrepreneur establishing and nourishing new programs and strategic partnerships.
- Significant academic administrative experience, preferably within a university/ community college.
- Proven leader with experience effectively managing large teams, a hands-on approach to problem-solving, and a track record of mentoring and developing other leaders.
- Must be capable of leading faculty, be sensitive to student’s needs and interests, and demonstrate commitment to fostering excellence in teaching and learning in alignment with Sofia’s transpersonal values.
- Experience in working with WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and preferred experience with California BPPE or other state authorization regulations.
- Ability to work with faculty to demonstrate excellent student satisfaction and outcomes in career-oriented programs.
- Ability to commute to either campus in California
- Ability to travel to represent Sofia University at conferences, lead delegations for partnership ventures both domestically and oversees
- Proven team leader
- Ability to envision and advocate the importance of humanistic and transpersonal learning and education in a global context.
- Demonstrate their success with and their ability to work collaboratively as a contributing team member of the President’s Cabinet.
- Possess excellent written and oral communication and effectual human relations skills.
Sofia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, and disability. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Human Resources Department at 888-820-1484 ext.10200.
